Apparatus for handling articles



April 23, 1946. c. C. MccAlN v r 2,399,052

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES Filed May 13, 1945 A asheets-shee't 1 mnuuuuu m'llm" l Ms Patented Apr. 23, 1946 Cecil C. McCain, Glen Ellyn, Western Electric Company,

Ill., assigner to Incorporated, New

. York, N. Y., acm-poration of New York Application Mayr '13, 1943, Serial No. 486,859

(c1. 51-z7r) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for article handling and more particularly to an apparatus for aligning a quartz crystal with a support.

In one stage in the manufacture of quartz crystais, such as used for frequency control devices ln electronic communication equipment, a rough block of quartz may be sawed into slabs, the block being cut at a certain angle to each of its several axes. I-Ieretofore, one practice has been to determine one of these axes, to mark the crystal accordingly, and then to cut the crystal parallel to or at a predetermined angle to that mark. The extremely high degree of accuracy required to obtain satisfactory crystals makes such a procedure very slow and difcult.

Objects of the present invention are to provide an emcient and eifective apparatus for article handling.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, an apparatus may be provided in which a quartz crystal, cemented to a mounting plate, may be aligned with respect to an X-ray beam to adjust the position of the mounted crystal relatively to a base plate associated with the mounting plate, while the base plate is held motionless by fixed aligning pins on the apparatus.V Both plates are then locked together in adjusted position and transferred to a cutting apparatus which has aligning pins corresponding to those on the aligning apparatus, which also engage the base plate.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with' the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a. crystal block mounted on a plate assembly in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view cf a base plate used with this assembly; v

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the aligning apparatus used with this invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of the apparatus shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing, however, the assembly of Fig. 1 mounted on the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line 'l--I of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along th'e line 8-8 ofFig. 6.

Referring now toV the drawings and particularly to FigSfI and 2, a quartzy crystal II) is there illus-- trated cemented to a glass plate II which is in turn cemented on a mounting plate I2. During thesawing operation, the saw must cut beyond the lower edge of the quartz and, thus, by positioning the glass plate between the quartz and the mounting, the glass being relatively easy to cut, damage to the saw or to the mounting plate is avoided. The approximate position of one axis of the crystal may be determined in advance by a suitable means and the crystal positioned on the plate I2 with reference to this axis in order to reduce the subsequent adjustment required in the aligning operation to be described herein.

After the crystal I0 and glass supporting plate I I have been cemented to the mounting plate I 2, a @rectangular base plate I3, shown in perspective in Fig. 3, ,is positioned beneath th'e mounting plate I2 and in Contact therewith. An upwardly projecting cylindrically shaped lug I 4, integrally formed with the upper side of the plate I3, then extends into and engages a cylindrically shaped recess I5 formed in the lower side of the mounting plate I 2, as shown in Fig. 7. In order to' hold the aligning plate and mounting plate together,

' a pair of arcuate slots I6 are formed on opposite sides of the mounting plate I2 and bolts I 'I are positioned therein and threaded into threaded apertures I8 formed in the base plate I3 to lock the plates I2 and I3 together. It will bc noted that four apertures I 8 are shown while only two bolts I'I are shown. In practice, because the mounted plate will be moved with respect to the base plate, only one aperture I3 at either end of thebase plate will be available at a time. By forming two apertures I8 at either end, the necessary length of the arcuate slots I6 is reduced.

When the plates have been assembled, as described, the assembly is then positioned on an aligning apparatus designated generally as'z and shown in Figs. 4 through 8. A pair of upwardly extending fixed pins 2l and 22, mounted on a` fixed horizontal shelf 23, then engage a pair of apertures 24 formed in the rectangular base plate I3, while a second pair of pins 25 extend through apertures 26 formed in the mounting plate I2, the pins 25 being fixed to a rotatable platform 2l of the apparatus 2D. An arcuate slot 28 is formed in the platform 2l to permit the right xed pin 22 to extend therethrough, while Va portiony 29 of the left edge of the platform is recessed to permit the left fixed pin 2| t0 extend therethrough. A cam 3i) fixed to a shaft 3|, which is mounted near the edge of the platform 2l, may be rotated by an arm 32 to engage the edge of the mounting plate I2 and to lock it rig'- axis of the crystal block with reference to which the crystal is later to be out. With the present apparatus, the X or electrical axis is employed as the reference axis. By directing an X-ray beam toward an end face of the crystal, it has been found that if a certain angle of incidence of the beam with respect to what may be termed an X-ray plane, present in all quartz crystals, is

employed, the beam will be reflected from this Y plane without substantial impairment. This X-ray plane is known to lie in a definite relation t the electrical axis of the crystal. Hence, by determining the position of the X-ray plane, the precise relative position of the electrical axis may be computed. For example, if the X-ray plane lies at an angle of 25 from the electrical axis, it will be apparent that by cutting at an angle of 25 to this plane, a crystal block may be cut parallel to its electrical axis.

In the present apparatus, a source 35 o-f X-rays having collimating means associated therewith for projecting parallel rays therefrom is positioned adjacent the left end of the xture 20, its position relative thereto being precisely determined. For example, if the required angle of incidence is 45, the source 35 will be positioned so that the rays projected therefrom will pass through an imaginary line extending parallel to the pins 2| and 22, at an angle of 45; When a quartz crystal is in position on the apparatus and its X-ray plane is properly aligned with respect to the X-ray beam, the beam will be reflected with maximum intensity to a registering device 36, also positioned adjacent the left 'end of the xture 20, but on an imaginary line which intersects the projected X-ray beam at approximately 90. Since the registering device 36 indicates the intensity of the refiected X-ray beam, the angle of reception is not necessarily critical, since, unless the crystal vis closely aligned with respect to the X-ray beam, the reflected beam will be of relatively low intensity.

Alignment of the crystal with respect* to the X-ray beam is effected by rotating the platform 21, the pins 25 causing the plate I2 to rotate therewith, while the pins 2| and 22, being fixed, prevent the base plate I3 from rotating. The platform 21 is rotatably supported on a shaft 46 which is journalled in a vertically positioned housing 4I, the housing 4I being mounted on a member 42 which serves as a base for the apparatus. A raised portion 43, integrally formed on the lower side of the platform 21, rests on the horizontal shelf 23 which is fixed rigidly to the housing 4I, the portion 43 slidably engaging the shelf 23 and, thus, cooperating with the shaft 48 in supporting the pivotable platform 21.

Rotation of the platform 21 is accomplished by rotating a worm gear 45 which engages a spur gear 45 mounted on a shaft 41 journalled in a housing 48 which is fixed to the lower side of the shelf 23 and at the right end thereof. A lug 49 is mounted on the upper side of the gear 43 near its periphery and engages a member 52 which is slidably positioned in a channel I formed by two parallel, downwardly extending', spaced walls 52 fixed to the lower side of the platform 21. As the gear 46 is rotated, the lug 49 causes the platform 21 to pivot on the shaft 48. A crank 53 keyed to the worm gear 45 facilitates rotation thereof.

Since the mounting plate l2 is engaged by the pins 25, which are mounted on the platform 21, the plate will be pivotedas the platform is pivoted. Furthermore, the upwardly extending lug I4 formed in the plate I3 is positioned on the plate I3 so that when the plate I3 is assembled on the apparatus 20 with the crystal mounting plate I2 attached thereto, the axis of rotation about which the mounting plate I2 is pivoted with respect to the base plate I3 will coincide with the axis of rotation of the platform 21. It will be understood that the assembly bolts I1 are removed during the aligning operation.

By observing the registering device 36 as the crystal is rotated by rotating the platform 21, while an X-ray beam is directed toward the crystal from the source 35, the exact position of the X-ray plane of the crystal may be determined. When this has been done, the bolts I1 which lock the plate I2r to the base I3 are tightened, and the assembly is removed from the flx ture. The locked assembly may then be transferred to a cutting apparatus, not shown, having aligning pins corresponding to the aligning pins 2l and 22 which will engage the apertures 24 formed in the base plate I3. The cutting tool may be adjusted then to cut at any desired angle.

For example, if ,the crystal is to be cut at an angle of from its electrical axis, since the relative position of the electrical axis with respect tothe X-ray plane is known, the angle of cut may be easily computed.

What is claimed is:

l. An apparatus for aligning a quartz crystal cemented to a mounting plate with respect to a base plate on which said mounting plate is mounted comprising fixed means for supporting the base plate in a fixed position, connector means for engaging the mounting plate, a fixed platform kfor supporting said fixed means, a pivotable platform for supporting said connector means in position to engage the connector means withthe mounting plate, and Vmeans for pivoting said latter platform to adjust said mounting plate relatively to said base plates through the action of said connector means for aligning said crystal with respect to saidY base plate.

2. In an apparatus for aligning a quartz crystal cemented to a mounting plate with respect to a base plate, a platform for supporting said mounting plate and said base plate in superposed relation, a rotatable shaft for supporting said platform, said platform being supportedthereon so as to be pivotable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said shaft, means on said platform for connecting said mounting plate thereto for pivotal movement therewith, a fixed platform, means on said fixed platform for positioning said base plate in a fixed position, and means for pivoting said pivotable platform to adjust said mounting plate relatively to said base plate to align said crystal with respect to said base plate.

3. In an apparatus for aligning a quartz crystal cemented to a mounting plate with respect to a base plate, a platform,*a rotatable shaft for Y supporting said platform, said platform being supported thereon so as to be pivotable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said shaft, means on said platform for engaging said mounting plate, a xed platform,

means on said fixed platform for engaging said base plate in a predetermined relation to said fixed platform, a lug formed on the upper side of said base plate and positioned so that When said base plate is assembled on said fixed platform, the center of said lug coincides with the axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft, said mounting plate having a recess formed therein in which said lug is receivable, and means for causing said mounting plate to be pivoted with respect to said base plate, said mounting plate pivoting about an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft.

4. In an apparatus for aligning a quartz crystal cemented to a mounting plate With respect to a base plate, a platform, a rotatable shaft for supporting said platform, said platform being supported thereon so as to be pivotable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said shaft, means on said platform securing said plates together in adjusted position.

7. An apparatus for aligning an article on its mounting comprising a mounting plate having said article secured thereto, a base plate for adjustably supporting said mounting plate, pivot means interconnecting said plates and providing l an axis about which said plates are relatively for engaging said mounting plate, a fixed platform, means on said fixed platform for engaging said base plate in a predetermined relation, a lug formed on the upper side of said base plate and positioned so that when said base plate is assembled on said xed platform, the center of said lug coincides with the axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft, said mounting plate having a recess formed therein in which said lug is receivable, means for causing said mounting plate to be pivoted with respect to said base plate, said mounting plate pivoting about an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said rotatable shaft, and means for clamping said mounting plate to said base plate in aligned relation 5. A crystal mounting assembly comprising a positioning plate receivable in a predetermined relation in a crystal Working apparatus and having a pivot pin mounted thereon near one end thereof, a mounting plate pivotally mounted on said mounting plate and having a recess noncentrally located therein for receiving said pivot pin, said mounting plate having a at surface for supporting a crystal in a central location thereon and with one of its sides substantially in alignment with said pivot, and means carried by said positioning plate for securing said plates together 1 in adjusted relation.

6. A crystal mounting assembly comprising a positioning plate receivable in a predetermined relation in a crystal working apparatus, a mounting plate adjustably supported on said positioning plate and having a flat surface thereon for supporting a crystal xed thereon in a central position, pivot means interconnecting said plates and located in a position removed from the center of said plates and providing an axis perpendicular to said crystal supporting surface about which axis said plates may be relatively adjusted to align the crystal With respect to said positioning plate, and means carried by one of said plates for .angularly adjustable, a xed platform, means on said platform for supporting said base plate in a fixed position, a movable member pivotally mounted on said platform to turn about an axis inalignment with said pivot means interconnecting said base and mo-unting plates, means on said movable member for connecting said mounting plate toV said movable member for movement therewith, means for rotating said movable member to move said mounting plate to align said article With respect to said base plate, and means mounted on said base platel for securing said plates together in adjusted position.

8. An apparatus for aligning a crystal on its mounting comprising a stationary member having spaced supporting and positioning elements thereon, a movable member pivotally mounted on said stationary member and having spaced connector elements thereon, a base plate supported in a fixed position on said supporting and positioning element of said stationary member, a mounting plate superposed on said base plate and having a pivotal connection therewith about which said plates are relatively adjustable the axis of rotation of said plates being in alignment with the axis of rotation of said movable member, said mounting plate having a connecting engagement with the connector elements ofsaid movable member, means for moving said movable member about its axis of rotation for moving said mounting plate and aligning said crystal with respect to said base plate, and means carried by one of said plates for securing said plates together in aligned position.

9. An apparatus for aligning a crystal on its mounting comprising a stationary member having spaced positioning elements thereon, a movable supporting member pivotally mounted on said stationary member and having spaced connector elements thereon, a base plate supporte-d on said movable supporting member and engaging said positioning elements on said stationary member and being maintained in a fixed relation thereto Y moving said mounting plate and aligning said n crystal With respect to said base plate, and means carried by said base plate for securing said plates together in aligned position.

CECIL C. MCCAIN. 

